PMS Parking CEO featured in State of Maryland Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs Newsletter

“…PMS Parking Inc. is a company that leases and manages parking garages and lots. That includes municipal parking, event parking, hotel and hotel valet parking, residential parking, commercial parking, college event parking, and self and valet parking.

… Geletu said, “Entrepreneurship is in my blood. My parents owned a textile distributorship in Ethiopia and I grew up knowing that I wanted my own business too.”

Geletu and her husband were familiar with the parking business as a result of working in garages to put themselves through school. Geletu noticed that despite their prime location, the Holiday Inn in Baltimore was not charging for parking. She persuaded her husband to talk to the general manager who agreed to let the Geletus’ manage the garage as long as they were able to afford a $1 million insurance policy. The Geletus’ scrambled to raise the money they needed for the insurance and also to resurface the garage and install a ticket machine and guard booth. The Holiday Inn became PMS Parking’s first client in November of 1988 and is still their client today.

… Geletu said, “Women who start businesses must have a passion for what they do. They must have a plan and they must be strong. I have never been afraid to approach big companies and I’ve never been intimidated by men. Also, if they have a passion and a plan, they should never let anyone change their mind.” …”